New Delhi

Hours after Tarique Rahman, acting chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), returned to Bangladesh following 17 years in exile, the student wing of the Awami League raised strong objections, alleging that his homecoming is part of a “backdoor deal” intended to pave the way for a one-sided election amid growing political tensions.

Saddam Hussain, president of the Bangladesh Students’ League, said Rahman’s return would not stabilise the political environment but instead deepen divisions and strengthen what he described as “fascist politics.” He pointed out that Rahman, convicted in multiple cases including those linked to a 2004 attack, bypassed judicial processes before returning, calling it a clear arrangement between the BNP-Jamaat alliance and what he termed an “illegal government.”

“The BNP leader’s homecoming will not resolve Bangladesh’s challenges. On the contrary, it risks facilitating a lopsided election and continuing the legacy of undemocratic politics,” Hussain told ANI. He further criticized Rahman’s past tenure, citing deteriorating law and order, a rise in extremism, persecution of minorities, and increasing corruption.

Tarique Rahman, son of former President Ziaur Rahman and ex-Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, landed in Sylhet’s Osmani International Airport on Thursday at 9:56 am on a Bangladesh Biman flight. Large crowds of BNP leaders and supporters greeted him, with the party hailing his return as the start of a “new chapter” in BNP politics.

His return comes amid heightened political unrest in Bangladesh following violent protests and the killing of student leader Osman Hadi, raising concerns over law and order, minority safety, and the broader political climate ahead of the general elections scheduled for February 17. The current Yunus administration has barred Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League from participating in the polls, further intensifying tensions.

Hussain questioned the credibility of the upcoming elections, arguing that the process lacks the fundamental democratic conditions necessary for a free and fair vote. “For elections to be legitimate, the government must be lawful, constitutional, and neutral conditions that are currently absent,” he said.

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He further alleged that political manoeuvring is being used to predetermine the election outcome. “What is being planned is not an election but a selection,” Hussain said, warning that this approach would not restore stability or resolve Bangladesh’s political crisis. “Nothing will truly change unless the process becomes inclusive and democratic,” he added.

Rahman had lived in London since 2008, facing multiple criminal convictions in Bangladesh, including corruption and money laundering charges, as well as a case connected to an alleged plot to assassinate former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. He was later cleared of legal obstacles following Hasina’s removal from power, enabling his return.